Help

On May 9, 2006, my husband and I came home from being out all day to learn that my brother-in-law had passed away in an accident.  It was devastating news to think that my dear sister was suddenly a widow and her three boys were now without a father.  I felt such overwhelming grief for my sister and her position; that her life had turned upside down in a matter of minutes. I felt a great need to be there with her, especially to help out with my nephews.  

My sister lives in Michigan and I was living in Utah at the time, working at the university while my husband was in school.  First I had to arrange the time off and then I had to figure out how in the world to pay for a last-minute airline ticket to fly across the country on a very student kind of budget.  No one else in my family would be able to make it to Michigan for a few more days.  I just had to get there but the cost of tickets was overwhelming.

Then the phone rang.  We didn’t have caller ID and I thought it was my mom again so I picked it up but it turned out to be a guy from church named Chad.  He was our home teacher, which means once a month he comes to visit us and check in to see how we are doing and if we need any help.  He was calling to set up a time to make a visit.  At first I just told him that we couldn’t do it that weekend since I was leaving town.  I hadn’t intended to tell him what was going on because I didn’t really know him all that well as he was new to our congregation.  He kept asking questions and so eventually it came spilling out and I started crying and telling him that I was trying to find a flight.  Chad paused and then said, “I have a one-way voucher for Southwest you can have.  Just buy a one-way ticket to Michigan and then this will cover you back.”  

I was totally taken aback.  I tried to decline telling him that we were all poor students and I don’t know how he came by that voucher but it was valuable and he should keep it, but he kindly insisted that he wanted me to take it and use it and not to think another minute about it.  My heart flooded with gratitude at his generous sacrifice.  He cut the cost of my ticket in half, which alleviated a lot of the financial burden and worry.  Chad brought over the voucher, gave me a good handshake and that was it.  I booked my ticket and headed to Michigan first thing the next morning, arriving in time to be of help to my sister and her boys in a time of great need.  

My husband and I moved just a month later and I have not been in contact with Chad since then but he will always have a special place in my heart.  His gift to me was so generous, kind and right when I needed it.  I have complete faith in the fact that he was guided by the spirit of the Lord to call me in that moment when he could be of great help to me and I will forever be grateful.

There are so many times I have been the generous recipient of help from friends, family, fellow church members, neighbors and even strangers.  I’ll never forget the kind mechanics in Reno, Nevada who correctly diagnosed the problem with our car (again when we were poor students), gave us the materials we needed to make the eight hour drive home, and sent us on our way without charging us.  Or the time that a friend brought over dinner, not having been asked by anyone, on the day that I miscarried my first pregnancy after three years of fertility treatments.  Or the one guy who showed up to help us move into our new house and stayed until the job was done.  Or the time my neighbor came over and started the lawn mower for me when I couldn’t get it going and then proceeded to mow the lawn for me since my husband was out of town.  I’m grateful to my other neighbors who in the last week alone have been thoughtful enough to stay and watch my sleeping baby while I ran to pick up a sick daughter at school and also to invite my son to come over and play.  Or the countless times friends have watched my children for me so I could go to the doctor or fulfill other responsibilities.  It is a gift to be surrounded by people who are willing and kind enough to help when it is needed. It makes me feel like God is watching out for me.

I’m also grateful for the times that others have allowed me to help them.  Those are special times too and I appreciate others trusting me enough to give the help that they needed.   

We were not meant to live in solitude.  God has organized us into families, neighborhoods, church groups and communities because there is something fundamentally uplifting to everyone involved when we help each other.  I know that has been true in my life and I hope you’ve felt it in yours too.  If not, let me know and I’d be happy to help.